Rosenberger's Birmingham Trunk: Difference between revisions

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One version of the [[Alabama Crimson Tide#Traditions|origin]] of the [[Alabama Crimson Tide]]'s [[Big Al|elephant mascot]] is that Rosenberger, whose son was a student at the university, outfitted the [[1926 Alabama Crimson Tide football team]] with red celluloid elephant-shaped "good luck" luggage charms for the train trip to Pasadena, California for the [[1927]] Rose Bowl. Reporters greeting the team on their arrival took note of the distinctive tags. Syndicated columnist Grantland Rice was the one credited with coining the phrase "Here come the red elephants of Alabama." (Another story dates the association to an October 1930 column by ''Atlanta Journal'' sportswriter Everett Strupper.) When the [[1930 Alabama Crimson Tide football team|1930 team]] returned to the Rose Bowl, the company supplied leather suitcases, paid for by the Alumni Association, for each team member. The firm's association with Alabama football continued into the [[Bear Bryant]] era as the legendary coach provided the members of his [[1961 Alabama Crimson Tide football team|1961 championship team]] with Hartmann cowhide suitcases from Rosenberger's in lieu of rings.
One version of the [[Alabama Crimson Tide#Traditions|origin]] of the [[Alabama Crimson Tide]]'s [[Big Al|elephant mascot]] is that Rosenberger, whose son was a student at the university, outfitted the [[1926 Alabama Crimson Tide football team]] with red celluloid elephant-shaped "good luck" luggage charms for the train trip to Pasadena, California for the [[1927]] Rose Bowl. Reporters greeting the team on their arrival took note of the distinctive tags. Syndicated columnist Grantland Rice was the one credited with coining the phrase "Here come the red elephants of Alabama." (Another story dates the association to an October 1930 column by ''Atlanta Journal'' sportswriter Everett Strupper.) When the [[1930 Alabama Crimson Tide football team|1930 team]] returned to the Rose Bowl, the company supplied leather suitcases, paid for by the Alumni Association, for each team member. The firm's association with Alabama football continued into the [[Bear Bryant]] era as the legendary coach provided the members of his [[1961 Alabama Crimson Tide football team|1961 championship team]] with Hartmann cowhide suitcases from Rosenberger's in lieu of rings.


J. D., who died in [[1945]], passed the company to his son, [[Mel Rosenberger|Mel]]. He opened the company's first suburban stores, first experimenting with temporary shops in [[Homewood]] and [[Crestline]] before opening a full-time showroom at [[Mountain Brook Village]], in [[1950]].  
J. D., who died in [[1945]], passed the company to his son, [[Mel Rosenberger|Mel]]. He opened the company's first suburban stores, first experimenting with temporary holiday shops in [[Homewood]] and [[Crestline]] before opening a full-time showroom at [[Mountain Brook Village]] in [[1950]]. The company also opened stores in [[Roebuck]] and [[Eastwood]].


His wife, [[Mae Rosenberger|Mae]] joined the business in [[1955]] and took over when Mel died in [[1971]]. Mae and her son, [[Ken Rosenberger|Ken]] operated the business until shortly before her death in June [[2010]]. They moved the store into [[Brookwood Village]] when the mall opened in [[1974]], then added a second location at the [[Riverchase Galleria]] in the 1980s. The Galleria store moved to [[The Summit]] in [[2006]]. In January [[2013]] the business was consolidated by moving the retail showroom to 2712 [[19th Street South (Homewood)|19th Street South]] in downtown [[Homewood]], where it had kept some warehouse space since [[1981]].
His wife, [[Mae Rosenberger|Mae]] joined the business in [[1955]] and took over when Mel died in [[1971]]. Mae and her son, [[Ken Rosenberger|Ken]] operated the business until shortly before her death in June [[2010]]. They moved the store into [[Brookwood Village]] when the mall opened in [[1974]], then added another second location at the [[Riverchase Galleria]] in the 1980s. The Galleria store moved to [[The Summit]] in [[2006]]. In January [[2013]] the business was consolidated by moving the retail showroom to 2712 [[19th Street South (Homewood)|19th Street South]] in downtown [[Homewood]], where Rosenberger's had kept some warehouse space since [[1981]].


==Locations==
==Locations==
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* "[http://jeffcohistory.com/images/2009-10.pdf Origin of the University of Alabama's elephant mascot and logo]" (October 2010) Newsletter of the [[Birmingham-Jefferson Historical Society]]
* "[http://jeffcohistory.com/images/2009-10.pdf Origin of the University of Alabama's elephant mascot and logo]" (October 2010) Newsletter of the [[Birmingham-Jefferson Historical Society]]
* Drexel, Keysha (May 16, 2013) "Trunk Show: In Its 116th Year, Rosenberger's Moves to Homewood." ''Over the Mountain Journal''
* Drexel, Keysha (May 16, 2013) "Trunk Show: In Its 116th Year, Rosenberger's Moves to Homewood." ''Over the Mountain Journal''
* Cromwell, Sidney (November 22, 2016) "Rosenberger’s considers closing after 120 years." ''The Homewood Star''


[[Category:Retailers]]
[[Category:Retailers]]

Revision as of 09:20, 8 December 2016

Rosenberger trunk logo.jpg

Rosenberger's Birmingham Trunk (formerly Rosenberger's Birmingham Trunk Factory) is a family-owned retailer specializing in luggage, leather goods and travel items. The company was founded in Birmingham in January 1897 by J. D. Rosenberger and began using the image of an elephant with a foot resting on one its trunks, usually in red, as early as 1905. Originally just a manufacturer, located at 315 19th Street North, the company expanded and opened a showroom at 1909 2nd Avenue North in the 1920s.

Birmingham Trunk Factory c. 1910s
Rosenberger's Birmingham Trunk Factory on 2nd Avenue North in 1939. Photo by W. B. Phillips. courtesy BPL Archives
One of Rosenberger's "charms", claimed as the origin of Alabama's elephant mascot

.

One version of the origin of the Alabama Crimson Tide's elephant mascot is that Rosenberger, whose son was a student at the university, outfitted the 1926 Alabama Crimson Tide football team with red celluloid elephant-shaped "good luck" luggage charms for the train trip to Pasadena, California for the 1927 Rose Bowl. Reporters greeting the team on their arrival took note of the distinctive tags. Syndicated columnist Grantland Rice was the one credited with coining the phrase "Here come the red elephants of Alabama." (Another story dates the association to an October 1930 column by Atlanta Journal sportswriter Everett Strupper.) When the 1930 team returned to the Rose Bowl, the company supplied leather suitcases, paid for by the Alumni Association, for each team member. The firm's association with Alabama football continued into the Bear Bryant era as the legendary coach provided the members of his 1961 championship team with Hartmann cowhide suitcases from Rosenberger's in lieu of rings.

J. D., who died in 1945, passed the company to his son, Mel. He opened the company's first suburban stores, first experimenting with temporary holiday shops in Homewood and Crestline before opening a full-time showroom at Mountain Brook Village in 1950. The company also opened stores in Roebuck and Eastwood.

His wife, Mae joined the business in 1955 and took over when Mel died in 1971. Mae and her son, Ken operated the business until shortly before her death in June 2010. They moved the store into Brookwood Village when the mall opened in 1974, then added another second location at the Riverchase Galleria in the 1980s. The Galleria store moved to The Summit in 2006. In January 2013 the business was consolidated by moving the retail showroom to 2712 19th Street South in downtown Homewood, where Rosenberger's had kept some warehouse space since 1981.

Locations

References

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